Image courtesy of JDS
Batticaloa District's Civil Society President Sabaratnam Sivayoganathan has been summoned by Sri Lanka's Counter-Terrorism and Terrorism Investigation Department (CTID) for questioning on September 9th.
Although Sivayoganthan has not been given any reasoning for the recent summons, he has previously faced similar interrogations.
In August 2021, two officers from the CTID who summoned Sivayoganathan to the Kallady Kaattukandhor police station for questioning where he was questioned abut his social media activities. Three months prior to this, Sivayoganathan's home was visited by the CTID where he was interrogated for over an hour about his involvement in organising the Pottuvil to Polikandy march in February 2021.
In a recent statement, Front Line Defenders said it is "seriously concerned" by the harassment of Sivayoganathan "which appear to be directly related to his peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights."
Yesterday the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet released a damning report which highlighted that "civil society organisations throughout the country continue to be questioned about their work and funding sources."
She added "that without fundamental security-sector reforms and de-militarization of the North and the East, this pervasive culture of surveillance and oppressive environment for the people in these areas will continue."
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